Juan (1901) Riera Sold at Auction Prices

Juan Riera and Antonio Coll i Pi - Great neo-Gothic retablo in carved walnut wood and partially golden

Juan Riera and Antonio Coll i Pi (Barcelona 1857-Santiago de Chile 1943) Great neo-Gothic retablo in carved walnut wood and partially golden. Signed and dated "J. Riera 1901". It is composed of two independent bodies. The upper body has three side lanes covered by traceries and Gothic pointed arches. On the two lateral side lanes Saint George and Saint Patrick are depicted. Both boards are signed and dated "A. Coll 901". The central side lane has extensive carvings Virgin Carmen with the Child in polychrome wood (with imperfections). The lower body is flanked by golden columns and thistle leaves’ frieze which crosses it from one side to the other; Carmelita coat of arms is located in the center. It includes 6 tall bronze candelabra and 2 matching small ones, as well as a golden bronze cross with the same quatrefoil base as the candelabra. The magazine “El Arte Decorativo” mentions Juan Riera, dedicated to the Artistic Industry Exhibition in 1896, where some of his Works are published, as well as some of other furniture makers in Barcelona. Antonio Coll i Pi studied at the Fine Arts Academy in Barcelona, where he was Agapito Vallmitjana’s student. He learned from the different fields, such as illustration, portrait and interior painting for great mansions. He spent his last days in Santiago de Chile, where he worked as a teacher at the new Decorative Arts School. The city has some of his monuments. Upper body measurements: 266 x 196 cms. Lower body measurements: 126 x 119 x 223 cms.